Hi All. Until yesterday I had never even heard of Gastric Vertical Sleeve procedure, much less the benefits or risks of it. I have struggled for 40 years with weight. This procedure sounds like it has the right risk/benefit balance that I am willing to proceed. (Bypass was always too invasive and risky to me.) THIS site helped me to feel like I could get information from REAL people with REAL perspective and answers. The good and the bad. So, THANK YOU ALL for participating here.

Good luck to you!!

Welcome! I agree. I have really learned so much on this site... so many people willing to help!

I had the same feeling about the sleeve. I never felt comfortable with the re-routing done in gastric bypass. I am PO'd that my primary doctor knew I had metabolic syndrome, then became pre-diabetic and NEVER mentioned it! One day I was watching "My 600lb. Life". The doctor said that he couldn't require his normal 50lb. loss for a particular patient because her situation was so dire that she wouldn't make it that long and mentioned a "less drastic" surgery, the sleeve gastrectomy. I changed primary doctors over it.

I'm hoping that the sleeve will help me get rid of diabetes and sleep apnea for good.

Incredible tool to help you get where you want/need to be...both my wife and I had the gastric sleeve surgery.

Mine was May 8, 2013, hers was exactly 2 months later.

I hit my goal weight around 6 months ago and she hit hers shortly thereafter (although now she wants to keep going for a new goal!).

You will still have to work, i.e. exercise and eat right...but the surgery is one helluva tool to help you get there!

Good luck!

Thank you all for the encouragement and advice!

This site has been beneficial to me in my decision making, also. When my doc first brought it up to me, I was hesitant and a bit frightened about it .... could I really be that overweight that surgery would be necessary .... unfortunately the answer was 'yes.' I'm scheduled for my surgery this coming Tuesday (TWO days away!) and am looking forward to it. I'm still a bit nervous, but after reading posts on this site, my nerves have calmed down considerably. I'm really looking forward to getting healthy again and feeling better than I have in years. I'll be happy when the blood pressure comes down and the sleep apnea goes away.

Good luck in your decision making process.

This site has been beneficial to me in my decision making, also. When my doc first brought it up to me, I was hesitant and a bit frightened about it .... could I really be that overweight that surgery would be necessary .... unfortunately the answer was 'yes.' I'm scheduled for my surgery this coming Tuesday (TWO days away!) and am looking forward to it. I'm still a bit nervous, but after reading posts on this site, my nerves have calmed down considerably. I'm really looking forward to getting healthy again and feeling better than I have in years. I'll be happy when the blood pressure comes down and the sleep apnea goes away.

Good luck in your decision making process.

I wish you the best. I'm going to have my surgery soon. Waiting for date from surgeon.